Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Kenneth Heywood and his daughter, Baylee, hold some of the 108 Beanie Babies dressed in military fatigues that the manufacturer sent to Heywood. The toys will be given to children whose parents are serving in Afghanistan. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven)Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Kenneth Heywood received 108 babies in the mail on Friday.
And the proud father couldn't be happier — that they were Beanie Babies dubbed "Salute" dressed in desert camouflage sent at no charge by TY Industries based in Bolingbrook, Ill.
"I didn't expect this — what a nice thing to do," he said. "I want to give them to young kids whose parents are in Afghanistan. It will bring comfort to them."
The Phoenix resident, an 18-year veteran of the Guard, is a member of the Guard's 1-186 Infantry Battalion headquartered in Ashland. Roughly 100 members of the 1-186 are currently deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Tigard-based 41st Brigade Combat Team, although some are expected to begin returning home next month.
The deployment of Beanie Babies, a company of tiny Teddy bears dressed in light-colored camouflage, was the result of an e-mail that Heywood had sent to the company after purchasing one on the Oregon coast about three weeks ago.
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"She picked it up and said, 'Mommy and Daddy, I want this,' " her father recalled. Baylee later said, "Daddy, he looks like you."
"She loves it," he said. "She carries it everywhere."
After they returned home, Heywood noticed a Web site on the $6 price tag. He e-mailed the firm, telling them about his daughter's affection for the Beanie Baby and asking if they would consider any promotional donations to Guard families.
Heywood said he heard nothing from the company until the box of 108 Beanie Babies arrived.
"I want to give them to the little kids (with parents) in the battalion," he said. "They'll give comfort to kids five years and younger."
Members of the 1-186, which has units in Medford, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls and Roseburg, volunteered last June to augment the 41st Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan for a year. All told, about 850 members of the Oregon Guard are stationed there training army and police units.
They will begin returning stateside next month in groups of 150, according to Guard officials in Salem.
Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at pfattig@mailtribune.com.
